Chapter Fifteen: Worth It

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Note: I really don't see Dumbledore as an idiot. He's just inclined to go along with something he sees as harmless if it amuses him or supports what he wants to happen. And why not, after all?

Dumbledore was examining Fawkes closely, trying to guess when the creature would have a Burning Day. Despite the fact that phoenixes were a well-established part of magical lore and it wall relatively common knowledge that he possessed one, it always upset the students (particularly the younger ones) when his pet just burst into flames while they were watching. As such, he tried to arrange it so that he wasn't meeting with any students in his office when it happened.

Snape burst into his office suddenly, his black cloak billowing behind him.

Dumbledore took a moment to admire the theatrical touch the cloak provided (did Snape use magic to get it like that? There was no wind) before he calmly gestured for Snape to take a seat. "Is something the matter, Severus?"

"That would depend on whether you would consider Gilderoy Lockhart coming up to me and telling me that Potter meant that I was his favorite non-relative teacher to be something the matter," Snape said icily.

Dumbledore nodded. "I see. Well, I would not consider that something the matter at all. Even if the continued closeness of Lockhart and Harry makes my eventual plan to remove Harry to his biological relations more difficult, the term has only just begun so it's a little soon to start worrying."

"I didn't mean about that," Snape snapped.

"Oh?" Dumbledore asked innocently. He was actually surprised that it had taken Snape an entire week to confront him about the fact that he had been telling everyone about how much Harry had loved Snape's class. Then again, Snape wasn't really one to gossip and no one really wanted to be the one to inform Snape of this newest tidbit. He supposed Lockhart had finally given up waiting for Snape to find out on his own (or assumed that after a week he had to have heard) and absolutely had to qualify Harry's comment.

When Harry had insisted that Snape was his favorite teacher, Dumbledore knew it meant one of three things. It was possible that Harry was, for whatever reason, lying. Lying about who your favorite teacher was to another teacher didn't happen often but sometimes students were trying to suck up and it could be a case of that. Snape could really be Harry's favorite teacher though Snape hadn't gone out of his way to appeal to Harry and Harry just really liked the subject or the sarcasm. That was, in Dumbledore's mind, the most likely scenario given that Snape could stay professional and not make the dislike he claimed to have for Harry known.

Then finally there was the possibility that Snape had immediately taken to Harry and started to become his mentor. Dumbledore rather doubted this one, actually, because while he was quite hopeful that it would happen eventually he knew that Snape was far too stubborn to give in on the very first class period regardless of how he actually felt towards the boy. Whatever the reason was, he had been absolutely truthful when he told everybody that Harry had said Snape was his favorite teacher and it had been such a fun story to tell.

"Why does Lockhart think I'm Potter's favorite teacher?" Snape demanded.

"Why does that man think many of the things he thinks?" Dumbledore retorted. "I, for one, still don't understand what he was thinking taking Harry."

Snape refused to be distracted. "Why did Minerva and Pomona smile knowingly when he asked?"

"They agreed that you were Harry's favorite teacher barring Lockhart?" Dumbledore hazarded a guess.

"And where might they have gotten that idea?" Snape pressed.

"Any number of places, really," Dumbledore said casually. "I didn't ask."

Snape closed his eyes and took a deep breath as if to calm himself. "Did you tell anybody that I was Potter's favorite teacher?"

There really was no way around such a direct question without outright lying, was there? Even if he refused to answer Snape would take that to be practically a confession. And lying was right out as so many people could contradict him without even realizing that he had lied about it. "Yes."

Dumbledore was nearly positive he saw Snape's right eye twitch slightly. "Why?"

"Because Harry told me that you were his favorite teacher," Dumbledore said simply.

There was absolute silence for a moment as Snape processed this. "He…what?"

Dumbledore nodded. "He did. I asked him about his first Potions lesson after I was certain that he had actually had it. He told me all about Mr. Malfoy and Mr. Weasley's little mishap."

"Weasley might have gotten himself killed if the ingredients were any more potent," Snape said darkly.

"I understand that Mr. Malfoy was equally involved in the incident," Dumbledore said delicately. He always had to be careful discussing Slytherins with Snape. The fact that he was a former Gryffindor (many, many years ago) only made it worse but Snape always assumed that those not actually in Slytherin who wished to speak to him about his house were persecuting them.

"He wouldn't have done if it Weasley hadn't been involved," Snape insisted, predictably.

"And would Mr. Weasley have done something like that if Mr. Malfoy wasn't involved?" Dumbledore challenged.

"He is a Gryffindor," Snape pointed out wryly.

"Then Harry told me how you gave him twenty points for answering some questions from the textbook," Dumbledore told him.

Snape looked annoyed at this. "Preparedness should always be rewarded if only for the decreased likelihood of one of those dunderheads blowing themselves up." Particularly so when the 'dunderhead' in question was a Slytherin.

"And then he said that you let him use muggle school supplies," Dumbledore continued. "I'm assuming he means paper and pens instead of parchment and quills? Most Muggleborns jump right into the culture but I seem to remember a Miss Lily Evans who did the same thing. She-"

"Enough," Snape cut him off. "I told him that if he did not get an E on his first test then it would be back to proper writing material. I am not unreasonable, Albus."

"Then you won't mind when I say that Harry looks forward to growing closer to you and is pleased to have been sorted into Slytherin?" Dumbledore inquired innocently.

"Of course he's glad to be sorted into Slytherin," Snape said automatically before the rest of what Dumbledore said hit him. "What?"

"It really does sound like you're well on your way to becoming Harry's mentor," Dumbledore said, beaming.

Snape's face, already pale, lost a great deal of color. "Absolutely not."

"That's what you said after the feast but I think the facts speak for themselves," Dumbledore said smugly.

"At most you can say I was 'barely civil'," Snape protested. "And barely civil does not a mentor make."

"It is if the mentoree doesn't mind," Dumbledore argued. "It's not the kind of arrangement I'd be satisfied with but if Harry really doesn't mind…"

"You can not force me to mentor anyone," Snape snapped.

"It wasn't me who made this decision," Dumbledore replied.

"Potter can't either," Snape continued.

Dumbledore sighed. "I am truly sorry to see that you feel that way."

Snape eyed him suspiciously. "Does this mean that you'll stop attempting to force it?"

"No," Dumbledore answered promptly. "I'm just saddened to see a young boy judged on the basis of parents that he doesn't even remotely remember. But I will accept that it needs to happen on its own. Well…mostly on its own."

"Albus," Snape said warningly.

"You won't even notice a thing!" Dumbledore promised. "Forgive me for asking but…is it healthy for your eye to twitch like that?"

There it was again. Snape really should consider getting that looked into it.

"Harry, how could you?" Ron demanded the minute Harry came out of the library.

Harry wondered just how long he had been standing there. He, Hermione, and Neville had been doing their homework in the library for the past two hours. Normally, he'd have done it in his common room but Neville and – more to the point – Hermione were in different houses. "Talk about déjà vu. Is this about me having been sorted into Slytherin again? Because I thought we talked about this."

"Do you really think that will ever be settled, Harry?" Neville asked, amused.

"If nothing else, Ron has to let it go once we all graduate," Hermione said reasonably.

Neville snorted. "That's almost adorable."

"This isn't about that!" Ron claimed. He paused. "Well…it sort of is but only a little."

"Is it safe to say that every problem you have with me will in some way involve me being a Slytherin?" Harry asked, resigned.

Ron nodded. "That's a good bet and if it's not, I'll make sure to mention it."

"What is it this time?" Harry inquired.

"You said that-" Ron cut himself off and looked around suspiciously before continuing in a much quieter voice. "You said that Snape was your favorite teacher."

"No one's going to attack you for repeating that," Hermione told him, rolling her eyes.

"You never know," Ron disagreed. "Why would you say such a thing?"

"Because he is?" Harry asked rhetorically, deciding that telling anyone what his real motivation was would be too much of a risk for that information getting back to Snape or Dumbledore. Telling Ron would be a horrible idea either way as he would promptly denounce the plan as Slytherin and therefore unacceptable and he'd start worrying about Harry again. Loudly and frequently.

Ron laughed. "Please, Harry. Snape's nobody's favorite teacher."

"The Slytherins all seem to adore him," Neville pointed out.

"That's different," Ron said after taking a moment to digest that. Apparently he had honestly never noticed this natural result of Snape's blatant favoritism. "They're Slytherins."

"So am I," Harry pointed out.

"But you're not a real Slytherin," Ron said dismissively.

"I know that you probably intend that as a compliment but it's really not," Harry told Ron, a bit annoyed.

"I'm just trying to protect you here," Ron assured him.

"From what?" Harry demanded. "Being a Slytherin?"

Ron nodded again. "Yes, that's absolutely it."

"It's a little late for that," Harry pointed out.

"Never let it be said that a Weasley gives up easily!" Ron declared. "Unless, of course, we don't want to do whatever it is we're attempting and then it's a bloody miracle we even started."

"Ron, you're being really unreasonable here," Hermione told him seriously. "Snape is a Hogwarts professor and therefore he can't be that bad."

"Hermione, I hate to break it to you but the man is pure evil," Ron countered, equal solemn.

"Funny," Neville remarked casually. "And here I thought that label was reserved for the Dark Lord and people who use muggle pesticides."

"He was hired by Dumbledore!" Hermione exclaimed.

"So was Lockhart," Ron retorted. He glanced sheepishly at Harry. "No offense."

"Why would he take offence that you keep insulting everything he is or cares about?" Neville asked rhetorically.

Ron shrugged. "Percy kind of insisted that I apologize if I say something like that. But that's not the point!"

"There was a point?" Harry asked, beginning to get a headache.

"Why are you claiming that Snape is your favorite teacher?" Ron demanded.

Harry opened his mouth to answer.

"And don't just tell me that he is," Ron continued quickly. "Tell me why in the world you're under that delusion."

"So he can't really be my favorite teacher?" Harry demanded. "It has to be a delusion."

"That's pretty presumptuous of you, Ron," Hermione agreed. "Does he have to have the same favorite teacher as you?"

"No," Ron replied. "Just as long as it isn't Snape. I mean, how am I supposed to save him from being evil if he insists on doing a thing like that?"

"How do you propose to save him from being evil without that?" Neville asked. "I mean, it's not like you really do anything but occasionally accuse him of being evil anyway-"

"That's quite enough of that," Harry said suddenly, dragging Neville away from Ron. The last thing he needed was Ron to actively attempt to 'save' him.

"So how long are we going to have these flying lessons?" Hermione asked nervously, looking dejectedly down at her broom which had absolutely refused to move at all. "I mean, I'm pretty sure I can spend the rest of my life using the Floo or Portkeys and I'll never have to ride a broom. Ever."

"Probably only a few weeks," Harry assured her. "We're not even allowed to have brooms, after all, so as soon as they're sure that we can ride a broom without killing ourselves or each other you'll be off the hook."

"So I have a question," Neville said suddenly. "What's the first thing you think of when you think of Gryffindor?"

"The most noble and courageous of houses with very distinguished alumni like Dumbledore," Hermione replied promptly.

Neville nodded. "Yeah, but you're in Gryffindor so I'm not sure I should take your word for it. Harry?"

"Reckless foolishness," Harry told him.

Neville nodded. "That's what I thought. Draco accused me of not being reckless enough to be a Gryffindor yesterday."

Harry winced. "What are you going to do?"

"The most recklessly foolish thing I can think of at the moment," Neville replied, mounting his broom and taking off.

"Neville!" Hermione shouted after him. "Get back down here!"

"Come back, boy!" Madame Hooch called but Neville just kept rising.

"Did he lose control of his broom?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"I don't know," Harry replied. "This is probably the most Gryffindor thing I've ever seen, though, so he should be happy."

"If he survives this," Hermione muttered. "Did he just…NEVILLE! DON'T YOU DARE!"

But it was too late. Neville, either accidentally or otherwise, had let go of his broom – which continued to fly – and was now hurtling towards the ground. There was a loud noise as Neville smashed into the ground and didn't get up.

Hermione and Harry immediately rushed to his side.

"What the hell?" Harry demanded.

"Worth it," Neville insisted, wincing in pain.

Madame Hooch reached Neville's side. "Broken wrist," she muttered. "It's always the Gryffindors. Come on, boy - it's all right, up you get. None of you is to move while I take this boy to the hospital wing! You leave those brooms where they are or you'll be out of Hogwarts before you can say 'Quidditch'. Come on, dear."

Draco waited until she was out of sight for a full ten seconds before he acted. "If that's not an invitation to 'practice' then I don't know what is."

"How about 'while I'm gone, partner up and carefully practice lifting off'?" Daphne deadpanned.

"Your muggle-loving mind tricks won't work on me!" Draco cried.

Daphne rolled her eyes. "You know what? I don't even care."

"Let's have a Seeker-off," Draco suggested. "Who wants to face me?"

No one said anything.

"Weasley, how about you?" Draco asked.

Ron blanched. "I would but Harry's going to do it instead."

"What?" Harry hissed.

"Come on, Harry! I'd do it but I'm more of a Keeper than a Seeker and I can't lose to Malfoy!" Ron whispered urgently.

"This is a really stupid thing to do, Harry," Hermione said flatly.

"I'll stop pestering you about turning evil until November," Ron offered.

"Deal."

Harry had ridden a broom on a few occasions in the past so he wasn't completely new to this (and unlike Draco he'd been forced to study pictures of correct broom gripping before Hogwarts so he could look like he knew what he was doing). Still, he had never tried his hand at anything Quidditch-related before. Crabbe had 'donated' an apple that he had taken from breakfast to use as the makeshift Snitch and the first one to catch it won. It was a close thing, but in the end Harry just managed to close his hand around the apple and pull up before he would have gone crashing into the ground.

It wasn't like he had expected thunderous applause or anything – even if what he did was really cool – but he hadn't expected utter silence either. He turned to see what was up with them and when he did his heart froze.

Snape was standing a few feet away watching them impassively. "Potter, Mr. Malfoy, over here."

Harry tossed the apple back to Crabbe and put down his broom before going over to see Snape. The trio walked into they were far enough way that the rest of the class couldn't hear them before Snape began. "Explain."

"We were just trying to make the most of our interrupted lesson since Neville got taken to the hospital wing," Draco said innocently.

"That's ten points from Gryffindor for irresponsibility during a dangerous lesson," Snape said automatically.

It was quite irresponsible on Neville's part, actually, but it wasn't like Snape knew what had happened. For all he knew, it was an accident.

"I watched your little…competition," Snape said silkily. "Mr. Malfoy, I do believe you have a gift. Perhaps you should think about trying out for the team next year. And you, Potter…detention."

With that, he spun around and strode away.

Harry stood in silence for a moment before shrugging. "Worth it."

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